Meet Chad Addison

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Addison.

Chad, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m from Boston, MA and was bit by the acting bug at age 10. My mom directed me in the role of Oliver in “Oliver!” at a community theatre. She’s without a doubt, my biggest influence to getting into the business. I blame her for getting me into this mess. She’s now teaching acting at high school and writing/directing plays. My parents have been so supportive of whatever I’ve gotten involved in. I started off doing plays and musicals in local theaters and high school, then ventured into the dance world after seeing my cousin in her dance recital. There were lots of girls, naturally, but what caught my eye was my friend Brandon (stranger at the time) who was up on stage with them. I thought, “who the hell is this kid? He’s dope, he’s having a blast and he’s surrounded by all these girls….I want to do that.” I told my parents. Coming off from years of soccer, this was a bit of a turn, but the next 5-8 years were wild – Hip hop to ballet with everything in between. A manager came along and Brandon and I ended up in a pop duo, “Rapid Impulse” – the boyband chapter came into my life. Our manager then screwed us over, but we kept performing on our own, each with our backup dancers.

Fast forward to college at UMass Amherst: social life took over and drinks were thrown back. Acting took a backseat to Budlight, but music/music videos were being made with my friends, Kyle and Gerard. I did a few plays and was in acting class, but I wasn’t focused enough (was never one of those conservatory actor kids that places seem to breed). That’s a joke. One drunken night, Kyle said, “Let’s go to film school in LA.” I said sure. Gerard said sure and quit pre-med. We were out of our minds, but right on track. Cut to palm trees – my dance passion by then had diminished and I fell in love with the TV/Film world. I was fortunate to work on projects with fellow filmmakers and friends at Columbia College Hollywood, but I was really honing my craft in acting classes outside of film school. A bunch of us did extra work for three years, where we got a feel for being on professional sets. I got my SAG card and joined the union. I joined a theater company, put together my acting reel, got an agent/manager and started into the audition world. I went through a tough breakup after seven years throughout all of this, which definitely shaped me. Looking back, these were all building blocks to get me where I am today. I’m happily married to my wife Mariel, who continues to inspire me. We’re both actors. Oh well. The struggle is real.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Hell no! This is a crazy industry, but I love it. It’s really easy to get down on yourself when you’re faced with rejection on a consistent basis. I’ve seen such talented actors give up and move on to other journeys in their life. I’d never be able to do it, but I get it. I’ve heard people say, “If there’s something else besides this that makes you happy, DO THAT.” I couldn’t agree more. The business aspect of Hollywood is what bites people the hardest out here. I stress out all the time. I’m a nervous wreck. I’m insecure. I’m confident. I’m driven. Actor, much? I just try to put that energy into the work. Taking care of yourself is a must. I tried hot yoga for the first time yesterday. I’m into it. When I get to the place where I can afford it regularly, I’m all in. I’m currently in a good headspace and focus, but I’ve let drinking get in the way and have found myself over the years in comfort zones that were only holding me back. Making money off acting is different each year, with some more lucrative than others. I’m still working side jobs, delivering food, babysitting, etc. I’ve done the restaurant life and vowed not to go back. It’s a struggle in itself to keep focused, stay in the game and not let the social life get in the way. Surrounding myself with positive and supportive friends is a priority. Aside from finances, my biggest struggle is being away from my family on the east coast and seeing loved ones age little by little, knowing I’m missing out on so much time I could be spending with them. It’s comforting to know they support me and celebrate each success along the way, but it’s definitely hard. The last thing I want to do is look back, wishing I had spent more time with my parents and my sister. That’s why focus is a must.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Acting is my main passion. I’m grateful for every opportunity I get and to everyone who’s given me a shot. I’ve done some indie films and a good handful of co-stars and guest stars on different network shows; Grey’s Anatomy, The Rookie, Grimm, Bones, 9-1-1, All Rise, CSI, to name a few. I had a recurring role on NCIS: New Orleans. I recently shot an episode for a new pilot, but I’ll keep those details under wraps for now. I love getting on the stage. The last play I did was “Hype Man” at The Fountain Theatre. That play was important to me, as it dealt with racial injustice, which we’re unfortunately still dealing with today. There were other themes of course, with music at its heart, which leads me into my second passion. My friend Kyle Young (that same Kyle who said let’s go to LA) and I have a recording studio now, where we work on our own projects and collab with other artists. Music is in me forever. It serves as my own personal therapy in this complex industry and gives me a constant creative outlet. Aside from acting and music, I enjoy screenwriting (have a couple features in the works). I’ve thrown on the producer hat for the indie feature film, “Paint It Red” – As fun as it was and as accomplished as I felt in the end, it made me realize it’s not the hat for me to wear. It gave me a big appreciation and respect for producers and how much work it takes to put it all together. Wild ride. It’s all a learning experience and I look forward to what’s next.

As far as what sets me apart from others, I’d simply say there’s only one me. You’ll be told a lot that there are a million people who are just like you and the competition is high (that second part is true), but I refuse to see it that way. Everyone is unique and our behavior is so varied from person to person, especially when you get into the nitty gritty and nuances of people. I do still play with my G.I. Joe collection every now and then and I’m a grown ass man. It helps me cope with life. Get at me. I will say though, that I like the struggle. I embrace getting in my car and listening to music while I have to go deliver food to some celebrity, producer or hipster. I refuse to be comfortable with side jobs, but I don’t drown myself in negativity. I let it fuel my want to get to that next level.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Part of me wants to say that if I knew what I know now, I would’ve treated it more like a business earlier on. I would’ve partied less, worked out more and eaten better. Although I cherish good nights of drinking with friends, so I’d only cut back partying so much. I would’ve saved my national commercial money instead of quitting my restaurant job. The other part of me wants to say…nothing. I’ll split the difference and say somewhere in between those answers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0168143/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
• Instagram: @chadaddison
• Twitter: @chadaddison

Image Credit:
Bjoern Kommerell; David Edwards; Chris Schwartzy; Chelsea Lutz; Kenneth Bauer

Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.